title: Serum biochemical analytes in captive Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Establishment of reference values for serum biochemical analytes is important for monitoring health and physiological status of captive animals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to measure and report ranges for serum biochemical analytes in Amazonian manatees (Trichechus inunguis).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from 24 healthy captive Amazonian manatees that comprised a mixture of adults, subadults, and calves and males and females; serum analytes were measured and analyzed using a dry reagent bench-top chemical analyzer. Comparisons were made between sexes and with previously published values of closely related species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medians and ranges (minimum-maximum) of values for the analytes were: lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), 151 (111-278) U/L (n=20); creatine kinase, 144 (76-315) U/L (n=11); alanine aminotransferase, 10 (2-28) U/L (n=18); aspartate aminotransferase, 14 (5-28) U/L (n=21); γ-glutamyltransferase, 47 (36-73) U/L (n=21); amylase, 1428 (1010-1874) U/L (n=21); alkaline phosphatase, 73 (36-141) U/L (n=19); total protein, 6.8 (6.2-8.0) g/dL (n=24); albumin, 3.3 (2.6-4.1) g/dL (n=21); cholesterol, 188 (101-399) mg/dL (n=21); triglycerides, 126 (60-236) mg/dL (n=21); glucose, 47 (22-69) mg/dL (n=21); urea, 43 (21-69) mg/dL (n=21); uric acid, 1.1 (0.5-1.8) mg/dL (n=22); creatinine, 2.2 (1.5-3.3) mg/dL (n=22); total bilirubin, 0.2 (0.2-2.0) mg/dL (n=21); calcium, 12.7 (10.2-18.6) mg/dL (n=24); iron, 282 (207-457) μg/dL (n=13); and magnesium, 6.9 (4.3-8.9) mg/dL (n=20). With the exception of LDH, no differences were observed between sexes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ranges obtained in this study provide important preliminary estimates for concentrations and activities of serum analytes in Amazonian manatees until a larger reference interval study can be conducted.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. danielamello@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Daniela Magalhães Drummond
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rosas
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D020456:Trichechus inunguis / Q000097:blood*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D007501:Iron; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D000681:Amylases; D008274:Magnesium; D001663:Bilirubin; D002118:Calcium